Celebrations

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum recently honored Sam Devinki by presenting him with its Wings of Memory Leadership Award for the Midwest Region.

The award was presented at a recognition breakfast as part of the Days of Remembrance events in Washington, D.C., on April 18 and 19.

Jill Weinberg, the Midwest regional director of the USHMM, noted that Devinki has dedicated more than two decades to supporting the USHMM on a local, national and international level.

Devinki was appointed by the president of the United States to be a member of the USHMM council, the governing board of the Musuem. Locally he has been the face of the USHMM, bringing programming to the city by hosting and planning events.

“He has a deep and long commitment to bringing Kansas City students to the Museum in D.C. and helping them to understand the power of the Museum,” Weinberg said.

Devinki participated in the first international travel program to Eastern Europe to collect soil and ashes that were placed in the Hall of Remembrance of the USHMM. This was the first of seven international trips that he has been a part of, “truly understanding the work of the Museum on an international level,” Weinberg said.

“Sam is so worthy of receiving the Wings of Memory award for his years of dedication to the USHMM. He represents the best of local, national and international leadership. His heart and mind have embraced the power of the Museum and its unique ability to reach millions throughout this country and around the word,” she continued.

Sarilee Kahn, daughter of Rita and Gilbert Kahn, has earned her doctorate from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work, where her qualitative research focused on the asylum-seeking and resettlement experiences of gay Muslim men and Muslim women subjected to female genital mutilation.

Based in New York City, Kahn is currently a trauma therapist and staff wellness consultant for international humanitarian organizations, providing crisis intervention, counseling and training for national and expatriate staff around the world. Current client organizations include Doctors of the World-USA, for which Kahn is co-director of the Psychosocial Care Unit, the International Rescue Committee, and American Jewish World Service. Kahn has been deployed to several high-stress environments, including Liberia, Afghanistan and Iraq to provide psychological first aid to national and international staff in the aftermath of traumatic events.

Kahn began her work with humanitarian organizations in 1994, when she served as coordinator of a psychosocial program for internally displaced children and families in Bosnia for the International Medical Corps. In 1997, she returned to Bosnia — with Physicians for Human Rights — to develop psychosocial programs for communities during exhumations of mass graves in the aftermath of the massacre at Srebrenica. She held similar roles with Physicians for Human Rights during exhumations in Kosovo, Cyprus and Greece.

From 1999-2008, she served as director of the Cross-Cultural Counseling Center at the International Institute of New Jersey, where she helped launch the Institute’s Program for Survivors of Torture, and launched New Jersey’s first statewide Anti-Human Trafficking initiative.

Ellie Olitsky, a senior at Blue Valley North High School and the daughter of Andrea and Scott Olitsky, earned the 2012 Shooting Stars Scholarship first place award in the photography division ($1,400) given by the Arts Council of Johnson County.

Ellie and the other award recipients and finalists were recognized at the Annual Shooting Stars Gala on Sunday, April 1, at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art and Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College. This award, and scholarship, is given to a Johnson County high school senior whose photography portfolio is judged to be the best among a group of finalists nominated by their high schools. In addition, one of her photographs was displayed at the Nerman through the month of April.

Ellie also had a photograph exhibited during the 2011 Drexel University High School Photography Contest. Her photograph was one of 140 chosen to be exhibited from more than 1,850 images received from all over the United States.

Ellie designed the sculpture for the Blue Valley North senior garden, created by Leopold gallery, which was installed at the school just last week. Ellie is the vice-president of the National Honors Art Society and will be attending Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., in the fall.

Sara Mittelman, a Holocaust survivor, is celebrating her 95th birthday on May 10.

Sara and her husband Israel fled their home and family in Pilica, Poland, in 1941 to escape from the Nazis. Through numerous escape maneuvers, they made their way to Russia, only to be imprisoned and assigned to hard labor. After the war, Sara, Israel and their 4-year-old son made their way to West Germany, where Sara gave birth to a daughter. After the next few years, the family was  able to migrate to  America, joining their only surviving relative, Geniek Mittelman, in Kansas City.

The Mittelmans loved America and the freedom and opportunities that were opened to them and their family. Through hard work and slowly learning the English language, they managed to start their own business, manufacturing upholstered furniture.

Sara’s husband passed away more than 16 years ago, but she has since carried on a tradition of giving back to her country with philanthropy, community and religious values. Her growing family includes her two children and their spouses, Harry and Brenda Mittelman and Marie and Phil Koffman, six grandchildren and their spouses, and 14 great-grandchildren, who all know her as “Gaga.”

At the age of 95, Sara still rules the family and constantly teaches her children and grandchildren the values and priorities of life. She is very proud of coming to the U.S. with her husband and children, without the English language and only “$17 in our pocket.” Through hard work and determination, they became successful in so many ways.

Sara’s children are honoring her 95th birthday with a weekend of family festivities May 4-6. All the generations of the Mittelman family are grateful for the privilege of being able to enjoy this still wise matriarch.

The children of Richard P. Briscoe and Ilene S. Kaplan are pleased to announce the marriage of their parents. The wedding ceremony, officiated by ship’s Captain Andrew Proctor, took place aboard the Crown Princess on March 4.

Thirty-two friends and family had gathered for a week-long cruise to celebrate the bride’s 60th birthday and her daughter Jana Kaplan’s 30th birthday. They were surprised when they were informed Saturday evening of the couple’s impending wedding to take place the next day aboard the ship.

Jana Kaplan, daughter of the bride, was the Maid of Honor. Bridesmaid was Heather Freund, daughter of the groom. Richard’s son, Brennan Briscoe was best man, with Ilene’s son, Brett Kaplan participating as groomsman.

The flower girl, Robbi Spector, sister of the bride, was escorted down the aisle by the ring bearer, Kellen Briscoe, grandson of the groom. Joe Spector, brother of the bride, walked her down the aisle.

The service included various readings and prayers recited by Brennan, his wife Amy and Brett, symbolic of the blending of their families and their cultural backgrounds.

The bride and groom remained aboard the ship for an additional week to celebrate their honeymoon. They will continue to make their home in Overland Park.

Jackson County CASA, led by Executive Director Martha Gershun, has received the 2012 Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award. CASA was honored for being a high performing agency with a budget of $1 million or less. The award, given by Support Kansas City, recognizes Gershun’s “strong fiscal management and sound strategic focus.”

Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) staff and volunteers serve as advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system. Studies show that having a CASA volunteer involved will improve the quality of the outcome for the child. CASA children are usually in the system for less time and are less likely to be re-abused. Every dollar spent on CASA yields $23 in savings in the foster care and family court systems. Jackson County CASA will advocate for more than 900 children in 2012 — an increase of 10 percent over last year.

Under Gershun’s leadership, Jackson County CASA’s Light of Hope benefit has become Greater Kansas City’s largest breakfast fundraising event with more than 1,000 in attendance. Last year, Jackson County CASA purchased the historic home that houses its offices just a few doors from Jackson County Family Court. The purchase provided the agency with an ideally located permanent site and freed funds to serve more children.

There is a tremendous need for CASA volunteers to serve the dramatically increased number of children being abused/neglected in our area. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the family court system. Through contact with the child, family members and other interested parties, a CASA volunteer provides critical information to the judge, so the best possible decisions can be made regarding where that child should live and what services they need.

While each case is different, a CASA volunteer usually spends about 10 hours a month meeting with the children, speaking with others involved, and attending meetings or court hearings. It takes a few hours a month to have a large impact on the life of a child — hours can be completed within the limits of even the most hectic schedule.

For information about volunteering, visit www.casakc.org or call 816-984-8204.

Celebrating the tremendous impact of kindness in eliminating violence in our community, Synergy Services will honor the kind acts of individuals and organizations at the 22nd annual Kindest Kansas Citian Awards Dinner. The event, planned for May 11 at Studio Dan Meiners in Kansas City, Mo., raises money for Synergy’s STOP Violence programs, which provide anti-bullying and other violence prevention workshops throughout the community.

At the event, Tom Barnett will be honored for a lifetime of kindness with his induction into Kansas City’s Kindness Crew. Among his many claims to kindness is his year-round commitment as a volunteer swim coach to children throughout the community.

Barnett has been a swim coach since he was 16 years old. Today he works with a wide variety of children, from beginners to those preparing for swim teams or working on a Boy Scout merit badge. Every summer he volunteers his time to give lessons, focusing on children with disabilities. Sharing his passion for swimming is just the beginning — he also serves as a mentor for his swim students. For the past six summers, Barnett has also volunteered as the assistant pre-competitive swim team coach at the Jewish Community Center.

Barnett’s love for working with kids also involves teaching at The New Reform Temple, where he has been teaching since 1989. One of his favorite activities is taking the confirmation class on a tour of New York City with the rabbi, where their focus is on Jewish history and culture.

Barnett has served on the Temple board on and off for 12 years, including two stints as board president. Though his teaching is a paid position, he donates his earnings to the Boy Scouts.

He also serves on the board of the Heart of America Council of the Boy Scouts; as a volunteer delegation leader for People To People International’s Global Youth Forum; and as teacher-for-a-day at The Barstow School, where he enlightens the eighth-grade history class about the evolution of weaponry from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War.

Barnett and his wife, Carol, are co-owners of the business he started in 1984, Mid-America Merchandising, Inc. They have three daughters, Jami, Amber and Samantha, and two grandsons, Tyler and Dylan.

For more information about the event or tickets, visit www.synergyservices.org or by call 816-505-4914.

Scott Sher and Anne Rosenthal announce the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, Davi Sher, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at Congregation Beth Shalom. Davi is the granddaughter of Sylvester and Celia Sher and Joseph and Beverly Rosenthal. Relatives and friends are invited to worship with the family and to attend the Oneg Shabbat following the service.

Steven and Dr. Evelina Swartzman announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Harrison Gregory, at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at the New Reform Temple. Harrison is the grandson of Boris Perepelyuk and Fiana Kamininskaya of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Howard and Sharon Swartzman; and Lea Endlich and Carolynn Fischel.

Todd and Jennifer Goodbinder of Penn Valley, Pa., announce the birth April 9 of a daughter, Regan Hope. They are also the parents of Ella Nicole and Zoe Frances. The paternal grandparents are Susan and Charles Goodbinder of Overland Park. The maternal grandparents are Neal and Esther Zalenko of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. The great-grandmother is Toby Simon of Kansas City, Mo.